HC moved against resorts and tourists inside forests in Mankulam, Anakkulam
The Hindu
April 7, 2024
The inaction of revenue authorities in Idukki to stop illegal functioning
of resorts and homestays and influx of tourists into the forest areas of
Mankulam and Anakkulam has wreaked havoc on the tribal settlement areas,
according to a writ petition filed before the Kerala High Court.
One Earth, One Life, a non-government organisation, pointed out that
inaccessible forest areas in these places were opened to the public under
the guise of providing transportation facilities to the tribals at the
instance of encroachers and local politicians. The petitioner said that
even the Forest department officers returning after inspection of a
pavilion constructed by encroachers inside forest land coming under
Anakkulam forest were surrounded and attacked by a mob led by local
politicians and encroachers in January this year. Subsequently, cases were
registered against them.
Tourists and outsiders often honk air horns that irritate elephants and
create traffic blocks inside the forest, resulting in a spurt in
human-elephant conflicts. Both Mankulam and Anakkulam, under the
Malayattoor Forest Division, have a considerable presence of wild animals,
including elephants.
The State government had constituted a committee consisting of Subcollector
of Devikulam, Divisional Forest Officer of Mankulam and Survey Deputy
Director of Idukki for completing the survey on properties in the illegal
possession of encroachers. However, inspection could not be completed
allegedly due to frequent transfers of Revenue Divisional Officers
appointed as forest settlement officers in Devikulam. The inordinate delay
in surveying, demarcating the land had also led to rampant encroachments.
The petitioner sought a directive to the State and the Revenue authorities
of Idukki district to evict all encroachers from the forest land and not to
permit vehicles carrying tourists inside the forests under the Mankulam,
Malayattoor and Kuttampuzha forest divisions. It also sought demarcation of
the lands and completion of the forest land.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/hc-moved-against-allowing-resorts-and-tourists-inside-forests/article68039317.ece
HC moved against resorts and tourists inside forests in Mankulam, Anakkulam
The Hindu
April 7, 2024
The inaction of revenue authorities in Idukki to stop illegal functioning
of resorts and homestays and influx of tourists into the forest areas of
Mankulam and Anakkulam has wreaked havoc on the tribal settlement areas,
according to a writ petition filed before the Kerala High Court.
One Earth, One Life, a non-government organisation, pointed out that
inaccessible forest areas in these places were opened to the public under
the guise of providing transportation facilities to the tribals at the
instance of encroachers and local politicians. The petitioner said that
even the Forest department officers returning after inspection of a
pavilion constructed by encroachers inside forest land coming under
Anakkulam forest were surrounded and attacked by a mob led by local
politicians and encroachers in January this year. Subsequently, cases were
registered against them.
Tourists and outsiders often honk air horns that irritate elephants and
create traffic blocks inside the forest, resulting in a spurt in
human-elephant conflicts. Both Mankulam and Anakkulam, under the
Malayattoor Forest Division, have a considerable presence of wild animals,
including elephants.
The State government had constituted a committee consisting of Subcollector
of Devikulam, Divisional Forest Officer of Mankulam and Survey Deputy
Director of Idukki for completing the survey on properties in the illegal
possession of encroachers. However, inspection could not be completed
allegedly due to frequent transfers of Revenue Divisional Officers
appointed as forest settlement officers in Devikulam. The inordinate delay
in surveying, demarcating the land had also led to rampant encroachments.
The petitioner sought a directive to the State and the Revenue authorities
of Idukki district to evict all encroachers from the forest land and not to
permit vehicles carrying tourists inside the forests under the Mankulam,
Malayattoor and Kuttampuzha forest divisions. It also sought demarcation of
the lands and completion of the forest land.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/hc-moved-against-allowing-resorts-and-tourists-inside-forests/article68039317.ece
